News Analysis India

Tag: Poonch

  • Security forces conduct search operation in J-K village

    By PTI

    JAMMU:  Security forces on Monday carried out a search operation in a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district following a tip-off about the movement of some suspicious persons, officials said.

    A resident of Purani village noticed the movement of at least three suspicious people in the early hours and shared the information with the police, they said.

    The police, assisted by the Army and the CRPF, immediately set up a cordon and conducted house-to-house searches but did not find any suspicious people, the officials said.

    Local residents claimed that this was the second time in a fortnight that the movement of suspicious people under the cover of darkness have been picked up by a villager.

    They also demanded a permanent security post in the village for protection.

    Security forces are on high alert in Poonch and nearby Rajouri districts following three separate terror attacks that left 10 soldiers and seven civilians dead since January.

    JAMMU:  Security forces on Monday carried out a search operation in a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district following a tip-off about the movement of some suspicious persons, officials said.

    A resident of Purani village noticed the movement of at least three suspicious people in the early hours and shared the information with the police, they said.

    The police, assisted by the Army and the CRPF, immediately set up a cordon and conducted house-to-house searches but did not find any suspicious people, the officials said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Local residents claimed that this was the second time in a fortnight that the movement of suspicious people under the cover of darkness have been picked up by a villager.

    They also demanded a permanent security post in the village for protection.

    Security forces are on high alert in Poonch and nearby Rajouri districts following three separate terror attacks that left 10 soldiers and seven civilians dead since January.

  • Intruder killed by Army in J-K’s Poonch sector

    By ANI

    POONCH: An intruder was killed along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch sector on Friday night by Bimber Gali Bridage Army, sources said on Saturday.

    During the search, the army recovered drugs and IED explosives from the intruder.

    Meanwhile, a search operation in the area is underway, sources said.

    Further details into the matter are awaited.

    Earlier on Thursday, security forces busted a suspicious hideout in the Mendhar area of Poonch district and recovered IED and other explosives.

    A police officer told that a suspicious hideout was detected in the Lower Kasbalari area of Mendhar by a joint team of army and police.

    “During searches by the army’s sniffer dog detected some suspicious IEDs and other explosive material which were later destroyed by the Bomb Disposal squad safely,” he said.

    The officer added that the suspected IED and other explosives were destroyed in the presence of the village Sarpanch and Numberdar.

    In May, Police busted a terrorist hideout in the forest area of Tehsil Khari in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district and recovered a large cache of ammunition, police said.

    According to Ramban police, the search operation was launched by J-K Police and Special Operations Group (Banihal) in the Burzalla forest area and suspected hideout locations were searched.

    “During which police busted a militant hideout and ammunition among other things were recovered from the spot,” police added.

    During the search, the police recovered two rifles grenades, and other ammunition.

    A case under sections of the Explosive Substance Act has been registered at the Banihal police station,” stated the police.

    Also read: Massive searches underway in J-K’s Poonch to track terrorists after attack on army truck

    Read more: Army suffers more casualties in Poonch-Rajouri districts than in Kashmir valley

    POONCH: An intruder was killed along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch sector on Friday night by Bimber Gali Bridage Army, sources said on Saturday.

    During the search, the army recovered drugs and IED explosives from the intruder.

    Meanwhile, a search operation in the area is underway, sources said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Further details into the matter are awaited.

    Earlier on Thursday, security forces busted a suspicious hideout in the Mendhar area of Poonch district and recovered IED and other explosives.

    A police officer told that a suspicious hideout was detected in the Lower Kasbalari area of Mendhar by a joint team of army and police.

    “During searches by the army’s sniffer dog detected some suspicious IEDs and other explosive material which were later destroyed by the Bomb Disposal squad safely,” he said.

    The officer added that the suspected IED and other explosives were destroyed in the presence of the village Sarpanch and Numberdar.

    In May, Police busted a terrorist hideout in the forest area of Tehsil Khari in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district and recovered a large cache of ammunition, police said.

    According to Ramban police, the search operation was launched by J-K Police and Special Operations Group (Banihal) in the Burzalla forest area and suspected hideout locations were searched.

    “During which police busted a militant hideout and ammunition among other things were recovered from the spot,” police added.

    During the search, the police recovered two rifles grenades, and other ammunition.

    A case under sections of the Explosive Substance Act has been registered at the Banihal police station,” stated the police.

    Also read: Massive searches underway in J-K’s Poonch to track terrorists after attack on army truck

    Read more: Army suffers more casualties in Poonch-Rajouri districts than in Kashmir valley

  • Jammu and Kashmir: Mother, son burnt alive after LPG cylinder catches fire and explodes

    By PTI

    POONCH: A mother and her minor son were burnt alive after an LPG cylinder caught fire and exploded in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Thursday, officials said.

    The incident occurred in Chandimarh village of the Surankote subdivision.

    The deceased were identified as Hamida Begum (40) and Aqib Ahmed (4), police said.

    Three other family members, including the deceased woman’s husband and two children, narrowly escaped in the blast and subsequent fire, they said.

    At least one dozen livestock also died in the incident, they said.

    Deputy SP Surankote, Tanveer Jeelani said a major rescue operation has been launched and so far two people and twelve domesticated animals have died in the incident.

    POONCH: A mother and her minor son were burnt alive after an LPG cylinder caught fire and exploded in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Thursday, officials said.

    The incident occurred in Chandimarh village of the Surankote subdivision.

    The deceased were identified as Hamida Begum (40) and Aqib Ahmed (4), police said.

    Three other family members, including the deceased woman’s husband and two children, narrowly escaped in the blast and subsequent fire, they said.

    At least one dozen livestock also died in the incident, they said.

    Deputy SP Surankote, Tanveer Jeelani said a major rescue operation has been launched and so far two people and twelve domesticated animals have died in the incident.

  • Army foils infiltration bid, kills three terrorists along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The army foiled an infiltration bid and gunned down three terrorist in an encounter along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Thursday, officials said.

    While the body of one of the terrorists was recovered by soldiers, bodies of the other two, lying across the LoC, were taken back by villagers of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), they said.

    “At about 1000 hours today, alert soldiers of the army observed suspicious movement of some individuals along the Line of Control in the Poonch sector (J-K), wherein they were trying to infiltrate across the Line of Control into the Indian side,” a defence spokesman said.

    The soldiers challenged the infiltrators who opened fire on them, he said.

    In an ensuing fire fight, three terrorists was killed, the officials said.

    Body of one of the terrorists has been recovered along with two AK-47 rifles, a pistol and war-like stores, the spokesman said.

    The villagers in PoK carried back the bodies of the other two terrorists, the officials said.

    The operation continues and a search of the area is underway, the defence spokesman said.

    JAMMU: The army foiled an infiltration bid and gunned down three terrorist in an encounter along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Thursday, officials said.

    While the body of one of the terrorists was recovered by soldiers, bodies of the other two, lying across the LoC, were taken back by villagers of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), they said.

    “At about 1000 hours today, alert soldiers of the army observed suspicious movement of some individuals along the Line of Control in the Poonch sector (J-K), wherein they were trying to infiltrate across the Line of Control into the Indian side,” a defence spokesman said.

    The soldiers challenged the infiltrators who opened fire on them, he said.

    In an ensuing fire fight, three terrorists was killed, the officials said.

    Body of one of the terrorists has been recovered along with two AK-47 rifles, a pistol and war-like stores, the spokesman said.

    The villagers in PoK carried back the bodies of the other two terrorists, the officials said.

    The operation continues and a search of the area is underway, the defence spokesman said.

  • UAPA case: SIA conducts raids at various places along LoC in Poonch

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Saturday conducted raids at various important locations in the border district of Poonch here in connection with a terrorism-related case, officials said.

    A special team of SIA Jammu visited the border district of Poonch in connection with the investigation of an important case of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, they said.

    The team visited various important locations on the border and conducted search and seizure, they said.

    It is worth mentioning here that Director SIA after reviewing the working of SIA Jammu has issued strict directions to speed up investigations to unearth terror networks.

    The SIA is a specialized agency constituted by the government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the investigation and prosecution of terrorism-related cases.

  • Terrorist hideout busted near LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch, huge cache of arms seized 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Security forces busted a terrorist hideout in a village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition, officials said on Monday.

    The hideout was unearthed during a joint search operation by the army and police in Noorkote village, the officials said.

    They said the arms and ammunition seized from the hideout included two AK-47 assault rifles with two magazines and 63 rounds, one 223 bore AK shape gun with handgrip, its two magazines and 20 rounds and one Chinese pistol with a magazine and four rounds.

    However, no one was arrested during the operation which was carried out late Sunday evening based on a specific information, the officials said.

  • Seven injured in head-on collision in J&K’s Poonch district

    By IANS

    JAMMU: Seven persons were injured in a head-on collision between two vehicles in J&K’s Poonch district on Tuesday.

    Police said seven persons were injured in a head-on collision between an army vehicle and a video coach bus near Tota Gali in Poonch district.

    The injured persons, including six males and a woman, were shifted to army hospital at BG Gali from where they have been referred to government medical college hospital Rajouri.

    “Police has taken cognisance of the incident,” sources said.

  • People asked to stay indoors as anti-terror operation enters day 9 in Poonch-Rajouri forest

    By PTI

    JAMMU: As the counter-insurgency operation in the forest belt of Jammu and Kashmir’s twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri entered the ninth day on Tuesday, public announcements were made in Mendhar asking local residents to stay indoors for their safety, officials said.

    The people were alerted through the public address system in local mosques in Bhatta Durrian and adjoining areas as the security forces were preparing a final assault against the terrorists believed to be hiding in the forest area of Mendhar in Poonch district, the officials said.

    They said the people were asked not to venture into the forest area and also keep their livestock at their homes in view of the ongoing operation.

    Those who have gone outside were asked to return to their homes along with their animals, the officials said.

    While a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and four other security personnel laid down their lives in a fierce gunfight during the start of the counter-insurgency operation in Surankote forest of Poonch on October 11, four other soldiers including another JCO lost their lives in another encounter in Nar Khas forest in Mendhar on Thursday evening after the security forces extended the cordon and search operation.

    An encounter was on in the adjoining Thanamandi forest in Rajouri district on October 11 when the security forces confronted the fleeing militants who, however, managed to escape.

    The entire forest belt is still under tight security cordon to neutralise the terrorists, the officials said, adding the area is mountainous and the forest is dense, making the operation difficult and dangerous.

    Eight suspected persons including a mother-son duo were detained for questioning from Bhatta Durrian in connection with providing logistic support to the terrorists.

    However, it is to be seen whether the support was given voluntarily or under duress, the officials said.

    Earlier on Saturday, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Rajouri-Poonch range, Vivek Gupta said the presence of terrorists in the forest area connecting Poonch and Rajouri was observed two and a half months ago and accordingly tactical operations were launched to track them down.

    “The joint security grid was tracking different groups of terrorists but sometimes operations take time, depending on the topography of the area. The contact with the terrorists was established on three occasions during the start of the operation, based on the intelligence inputs,” the officer had said, adding the terrorists are holed up and the joint forces are on the job to take the operation to the logical conclusion.

    The army has already deployed para-commandos and a helicopter was also seen hovering over the forest area on Saturday for surveillance.

    The traffic between Mendhar and Thanamandi along the Jammu-Rajouri highway remained suspended as a precautionary measure for the fifth day on Tuesday in the wake of the ongoing operation.

    Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts since June this year, resulting in the killing of nine terrorists in separate encounters.

  • Kashmiris not involved in recent civilian killings, conspiracy to defame them: Farooq Abdullah

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday, October 17, 2021, said Kashmiris were not involved in the recent civilian killings in the union territory and that these attacks were carried under a conspiracy to defame Kashmiris.

    The Lok Sabha member from Srinagar said these killings were an attempt to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the valley.

    “These killings are unfortunate and done under a conspiracy. Kashmiris are not involved in these killings. It is an attempt to defame Kashmiris,” Abdullah told reporters here.

    Two non-locals were shot dead by militants in Srinagar and Pulwama districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

    Before that, seven civilians, including four from minority communities, were killed by terrorists in Kashmir, triggering fear among the people in the Valley and criticism of the security apparatus by political parties.

    Asked about the NSA level talks between India and Pakistan, Abdullah said any initiative that leads to friendship is welcome.

    “We should pray and hope that there is friendship between the two countries and we can live (in peace),” he added.

  • Anti-Pak protests against killing of civilians, soldiers by terrorists held in Jammu 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Several groups on Sunday, October 17, 2021, staged anti-Pakistan protests at different places here to condemn the killing of civilians and security personnel by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

    The fresh protests in different parts of Jammu and border district of Poonch came a day after terrorists shot dead two non-locals, Arvind Kumar Sah of Bihar and Saghir Ahmad of Uttar Pradesh, in separate attacks in Srinagar and Pulwama districts.

    The protesters belonging to different groups set ablaze effigies of the Pakistani government to denounce its continued support to the terror activities in the Union Territory.

    They also paid rich tributes to nine army personnel who lost their lives during the ongoing search and cordon operation in Surankote and Mendhar forests in Poonch district.

    Shiv Sena Dogra Front activists staged a protest at Rani Park, All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference at circular road, Rashtriya Bajrang Dal outside Press Club, Jammu West Assembly Movement at New Plot and Rajput Karni Sena at Tawi bridge, the officials said.

    Activists of the Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) also staged a demonstration at Poonch district, they said.